Only in the Valley...

I missed the onramp for the freeway in Wasilla yesterday so I drove into a driveway to turn around. I was surprised to see this pig running down the driveway towards my truck! Then it got behind my truck so I couldn't back up. I drove down the rest of the driveway to turn around without hitting the pig and a woman came out of the house to see what was going on. I inquired about the pig and she said it lived down the street and sometimes came over to visit. I started out of the driveway and saw the pig foraging on the side of the road, which was fine, but then it started running right down the middle of the road! I watched it for a bit and it finally made its way to the side of the road. I continued on my way, but waved to two cars coming towards the pig and when they unrolled their windows I told them, "Careful, there's a pig running down the road." They didn't seem to think that was strange at all. As I was getting back onto the freeway, I could still see the street below. I saw a truck with a dog standing in the open back, and a kid running behind, "herding" the pig back into its driveway. I couldn't get a clear shot but briefly saw the pig reunited with its piglets back home! I'm thinking of going back for a visit to see those piglets again. I figure the people must be nice, if they were willing to herd their pig home...(I know I'm overdoing it with the pics but who can cull pig pics? I especially love the curly tail and the one black hoof which is really visible if you click on the third pic. Or not if that's not your thing).

I just got back from a quick gig in Fairbank. I was admiring the beautiful scenery on the drive home when I noticed the little brown dots. It was a herd of caribou! Even better than just the mountains!! They all looked young, I didn't see any bigger caribou, not sure what that means. They were munching furiuosly.

This is the dog who was set to appear in a feature film that was supposed to shoot in Valdez last week. It ended up getting canceled, but not before Rugby and his two trainers flew all the way from Los Angeles and then drove with me all the way to Valdez. I was happy to be their chauffeur, and also to provide Rugby with the best Alaska has to offer to keep a sled-dog-looking actor-dog-from LA comfortable in the Alaskan weather! These are no mere booties, these are pricy Snow Boots! And a beautiful matching waterproof fleece lined coat. Rugby appreciated it, as soon as he got used to the boots. He spent a lot of time prancing and kicking in them before he settled down. He got a lot of funny looks at gas stations along the way with his luxurious sled dog gear.

I saw this huge moose this morning in Anchorage foraging outside of some apartment buildings. This one is wearing a radio collar. Will I ever be not be awed by seeing a magnificent moose just doing its thing in a busy city? I don't think so. You can really see the steam coming from his nostrils in the bottom pic, it was a cold morning!

View of the pink mountains in Wasilla off Trunk Rd. just before sunset yesterday. I still can't get over the mountains surrounding us here. You don't have to drive anywhere to see them, they're just everywhere!

Do Not Stop

What's the first thing that came to our mind when we saw this sign on our drive to Valdez last week? Why the stop the car and start taking pictures, of course!!

The best words to describe the waterfalls on the drive to Valdez is "awesome." Here are just a few pics. I definitely want to do this drive again in the summer! I had no idea it was so spectacular through Thompson Pass, what a cool surprise. It was a little bit of scary driving, but not too icy.

Man these Valdez folks have to do a LOT of shoveling.

I'm in Valdez now for work, we drove in today, what a spectacular drive, I can only imagine how nice it is in the summer. Lots of frozen waterfalls and huge mountain passes. Pics to follow soon!

One of the many Iditarod straw drops, this was in the village of White Mountain a few days before the race arrived there.